Are you meeting the minimum requirements?

We all have a minimum level of self-care that we need to sustain our self-confidence. When we don’t meet these minimum requirements, it shows in our energy level and mood, and eventually in our self-esteem and confidence as well.

I know this from personal experience. I didn’t take care of myself at all for many years. I didn’t have the money to buy anything even slightly indulgent. When I discovered herbs, that started to change since I could make some of my own self-care products. I haven’t practised this knowledge as much as I probably should, but I’ve started making an effort at least now.

When I get used to this level, I’m going to step it up. Are you taking care of the real you? To bring the one you really are inside to the outside, and not let yourself be buried by the demands of everyday life. I don’t mean beauty treatments for beauty’s sake. I mean a long bath to relax when you need it, a massage, a face mask, a drink, a piece of chocolate, cake or maybe pie to treat yourself to something nice on occasion and so on.

I recently discovered an irony about taking care of myself. During the recent holiday season, I ate sweets almost every day, whereas previously I’d only had a cookie once or twice a week. I couldn’t understand why I felt so bad when I was “treating” myself. Once I cut out the sweets, added a lot of water and exercise, I sure felt a lot better. Being kind to yourself also means knowing your body.

Due to a long period of unemployment and attending college (which has been followed by yet more unemployment), I will admit that I am so guilty of not performing even the minimum requirements to keep my self esteem functioning.

I’ve been there myself. I was unemployed for 8 years, in uni for 2, then temping for 4 before I got a job: all of those used every bit of energy I might have had for self care. I’ve gotten myself into another gear now, after I ended up on sick leave. The last year I’ve been taking a lot better care of myself, and I aim to increase that even further.